A federal bankruptcy judge has ordered former Purdue Pharma chairman Richard Sackler to cease obstructing the sale of his opulent Greenwich, Connecticut mansion, a property intended to help fund the Sackler family's $7.4 billion settlement related to the opioid crisis. The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane rejects Sackler and his wife Lin Gao's request to reconsider a previous decision that cleared the path for the sale, as well as their attempt to halt the process.
Judge Lane stated during a hearing that the Sackler family's ongoing efforts to prevent the sale are based on a "persistent fiction" that the mansion is solely their home, when in fact it is designated to contribute to the settlement fund. While the court documents do not provide a specific valuation for the mansion, sources familiar with the affluent Greenwich neighborhood indicate it has a municipal assessment of $65.45 million. The estate spans nearly 10,500 square feet and features six bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
Gao and her children reportedly continue to reside in the mansion, complicating efforts to sell both the property and its contents. Judge Lane acknowledged Sackler owns four other residences, including his primary home in Florida, and emphasized the urgency of the settlement payments to victims of the opioid epidemic. He warned that further delays or sanctions, including potential eviction, could be considered if the family does not comply.
The mansion has previously been transferred between Sackler family trusts to facilitate a $62 million settlement payment. This legal battle is part of the broader repercussions stemming from Purdue Pharma's central role in fueling the opioid crisis through the aggressive marketing of OxyContin. While the Sackler family has agreed to contribute billions to resolve claims, no family member has faced criminal charges related to the scandal.
Judge Lane expressed profound concern that the family's actions are delaying crucial payments to victims, stating, "This is not a victimless crime your clients are perpetrating." The Sackler family's settlement funds are intended to support addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs nationwide. The family plans to appeal the ruling regarding the property's sale.